BDSM is a range of normally erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, along with other relevant interpersonal dynamics. Presented the wide selection of methods, a few of which may be engaged in by individuals who don't contemplate themselves to be practising BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM Group or subculture generally is claimed to depend upon self-identification and shared knowledge.

The initialism BDSM is very first recorded within a Usenet submit from 1991, and is interpreted as a mix of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-control), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is currently utilized to be a capture-all phrase covering a wide range of functions, kinds of interpersonal relationships, and distinctive subcultures. BDSM communities normally welcome any person with a non-normative streak who identifies While using the Local community; this will involve cross-dressers, human body modification fanatics, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Many others.

Pursuits and relationships in BDSM will often be characterized via the individuals' taking over roles which might be complementary and involve inequality of electric power; As a result, the idea of knowledgeable consent of both the companions is critical. The phrases submissive and dominant will often be employed to differentiate these roles: the dominant spouse ("dom") usually takes psychological Handle about the submissive ("sub"). The terms prime and base may also be applied; the top would be the instigator of the action even though The underside will be the receiver on the motion. The two sets of terms are subtly unique: for example, a person may well choose to act as bottom to a different human being, for instance, by currently being whipped, purely recreationally, with none implication of being psychologically dominated, and submissives might be requested to therapeutic massage their dominant associates. Although the bottom carries out the action and the very best receives it, they've got not essentially switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are frequently utilized as opposed to submissive and dominant. From time to time the feminine-unique conditions mistress, domme, and dominatrix are used to describe a dominant woman, as opposed to the at times gender-neutral expression dom. Individuals who transform involving major/dominant and base/submissive roles—whether or not from connection to romantic relationship or in a presented romance—are identified as switches. The exact definition of roles and self-identification is a typical matter of debate amongst BDSM individuals.